To cushion households from surging kitchen expenses ahead of the festive season, the Central government has initiated market interventions to curb rising onion prices. Under this price stabilization measure, onions from the central buffer stock are being released into retail channels, with sales in Delhi commencing today at a subsidized rate of ₹35 per kg. Government officials emphasized that there is no scarcity of onions in the country and that sufficient domestic reserves are available to comfortably satisfy peak festive demand.
Retail Price Surges and Official Oversight
The intervention comes on the back of sharp price escalation in retail markets across the country over recent weeks. Official data from Wednesday indicated that the average national retail price of onions touched ₹46.74 per kg. This represents an increase of approximately 35 percent over the previous month and a steep 63 percent jump compared to the corresponding period last year. Authorities noted that minor price increases are customary prior to major festivals due to heightened consumption, but assured that supply dynamics are being continuously monitored to prevent speculative spikes.
Logistical Push via 'Kanda Express'
To swiftly enhance supply volumes in the national capital region, the government arranged dedicated rail transport from Maharashtra's Nashik district. A specialized freight train designated as the 'Kanda Express' was dispatched from Lasalgaon, widely recognized as one of Asia's largest wholesale onion trading hubs. Comprising 21 wagons loaded with around 450 metric tonnes of onions, the train departed on Wednesday at approximately 3:10 PM bound for Delhi's Adarsh Nagar station. Although the initial logistical target was to transport 840 metric tonnes, operational delays during the packaging stage capped the initial shipment at 450 metric tonnes.
Delhi Retail Outlets and Mobile Distribution Network
A multi-agency distribution network has been deployed across Delhi to ensure consumers can easily access the subsidized ₹35 per kg onions. Supply is being routed through retail counters and mobile vans operated by the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), alongside outlets run by Safal and Kendriya Bhandar. NCCF is distributing through 90 fixed outlets and 40 mobile units, while NAFED has deployed 13 outlets and 50 mobile vans. Furthermore, around 100 Kendriya Bhandar stores across the capital are actively participating in the retail drive.
Nationwide Distribution and Production Outlook
Market interventions are simultaneously expanding beyond Delhi to stabilize prices in multiple regional hubs. Supplies from the central reserve are being dispatched to major cities including Chennai, Kolkata, Ernakulam, Guwahati, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna, Chandigarh, Jammu, and Amritsar. On the production front, official estimates project domestic onion output for 2025-26 at roughly 307.37 lakh tonnes, closely matching the previous year's harvest of 307.67 lakh tonnes. The government currently retains a strategic buffer reserve of about 1.21 lakh tonnes to manage any unforeseen market volatility.
